Andrew Burns - Green Street Realty Specialist

Andrew Burns
Green Street Specialist

Andrew J. Burns began his career in real estate as an investor profiting from equity positions by acquiring pre-foreclosures.  In addition, he invested in multiple rental properties while again profiting from a significant rate of appreciation.  Aligning himself with like-minded investors, Mr. Burns helped create Foundations Financial which helped entry-level and experienced investors use self-directed IRAs, option ARMS, and zero-down programs to invest in real estate around the Phoenix metropolitan area in addition to fractional ownership projects in the Dominican Republic.

After riding the bull “real estate” market from 2003 to early 2006, Mr. Burns recognized, before most, that the market had peaked, so he switched gears to help baby boomers buy new homes.  This was followed by a brief tenure with Shea Homes' active adult model at Trilogy: Power Ranch, where he sold new and “spec” homes.  During his time with Shea, Mr. Burns worked alongside general contractors to learn processes and construction time-lines from groundbreaking to final walk-through stages.  Instead of opening a third community with Trilogy, Mr. Burns joined Lennar just as the U.S. Homes and Graystone divisions merged.  Almost immediately, Mr. Burns became one of the top salesmen in the company.  Although having earned a position at Lennar Phoenix's prestigious and now flagship community, Layton Lakes, Mr. Burns was determined that he needed to start his plan to jump ship after he survived a sizable lay off in the winter 2007.  In combination of the decrease in home starts and the distressed resale home market heating up, Mr. Burns had his exit strategy solidified and left Lennar in 2008.

Before accepting the offer to join Green Street Realty, Mr. Burns — in partnership with another agent — learned the REO business with Fannie Mae-owned properties.  He eventually went on to work independently only to explode his short-sale listing inventory valley-wide.  “Our machine was well oiled and set in overdrive. We did not waste our time chasing the high-end homes that most of the financing had dried up but worked the market that was moving… homes under $100K.  Top agents who handled only million-dollar properties questioned our game plan, but we explained that 10 $100K listings reared the same commission as a $1 million listing.  The workload was longer and harder; but with the team in place, the system worked, so we worked it.  At one point, I had only 30 listing; then only a few months later I had just under 100 listings.  My goal was to surpass 100 at some point, but I knew I had maxed out the team and myself.”

During his tenure at Fine Properties, Mr. Burns also had his hand in the luxury room as well.  After proving himself to be a viable co-list agent and student to Kristy Ryan (Ranked #1 Arizona RE/MAX agent in 2011 as well as within the top 20 in the U.S.), Mr. Burns had the honor to work alongside her.  “Probably the most painful part of leaving RE/MAX to join Green Street was leaving the relationships I had established and the ability to work with top performing agents.”  Mr. Burns had previously worked with Green Street Realty for over 2 years and gives credit to their state-of-the-art web technology to get as many listings as he did.  So, when the time came to make the jump from RE/MAX to Green Street, it was the easiest and smartest move he had made in his real estate career.  During his brief “official” tenure with Green Street Realty, Mr. Burns has focused on two of the three diverse parallels within the brokerage to ramp up to investment purchases and standard short-sale listings. The investment model includes working with a private equity firm handling over $25 million for a buy and hold strategy. The partnership with Done Deal Solutions is their in-house model and Green Street’s largest opportunity for return on investment. While Done Deal’s model works a "buy and hold" strategy, their bread and butter includes their "fix and flip" model.  “The opportunity to make money in real estate will never go away, but aligning the right people in the right position with the right compensation will always be a balance that we strive to focus on. “We do not want people to come to GSR to hang their license and work part time to just get by.  We want people to work our system, create their own model, and continuously strive to net revenues of $50-$100K a month.”

Prior to his real estate career and after attending Arizona State University, Andrew gained his overview of investing, insurance, stocks, and bonds with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network of Milwaukee.  Mr. Burns then went on to develop his managerial skills in the hospitality industry with Earls of Vancouver, Canada.  “Managing people my age and older immediately out of college was not what I envisioned, but I did not have many other viable options.”  The tech/dot com meltdown in 2001 left Mr. Burns without the position he was hired on for upon completion of his B.A.  The telecommunication company froze their hiring and eventually completely pulled out of the Phoenix market.  “It was truly a blessing in disguise, because I had the opportunity to meet people of all professions in North Scottsdale, which would help me create my exit strategy out of that industry.”

Mr. Burns currently resides in the “Old Town” area in downtown Scottsdale.  Having been raised as an only child by his father, a retired Lieutenant Colonel from West Point, and a now-deceased mother, who worked with United Airlines, Mr. Burns made his move to Arizona in 1996 to attend Arizona State University.  Mr. Burns has planted his roots here for the time being, after having been born in Germany and previously living in five other states.  His father and step-mother are enjoying their retired life outside Cincinnati.

For further information, Andrew can be reached at 602-743-7539, or via e-mail at

My Current Listings

1		1811 W Wildhorse Drive, Chandler, AZ, 85286 Cross Street: S Dobson Rd/ W Wills Rd List Price: $149,900 More information about this property... Listing Courtesy of: Green Street Realty LLC	Type: Single Family Square Feet: 1661 Beds/Baths: 3/2
2		11286 W Del Rio Lane, Avondale, AZ, 85323 Cross Street: Avondale Blvd & W Lower Buckeye Road List Price: $76,990 More information about this property... Listing Courtesy of: Green Street Realty LLC	Type: Single Family Square Feet: 1605 Beds/Baths: 4/2
3		11009 E Aspen Avenue, Mesa, AZ, 85208 Cross Street: Signal Butte Road and Broadway Road List Price: $73,000 More information about this property... Listing Courtesy of: Green Street Realty LLC	Type: Single Family Square Feet: 1300 Beds/Baths: 3/2
4		10773 W Alvarado Road, Avondale, AZ, 85392 Cross Street: 107th Ave and McDowell List Price: $69,990 More information about this property... Listing Courtesy of: Green Street Realty LLC	Type: Single Family Square Feet: 1364 Beds/Baths: 3/2
5		1635 W Nancy Lane, Phoenix, AZ, 85041 Cross Street: Southern Ave and 16th ave List Price: $55,000 More information about this property... Listing Courtesy of: Green Street Realty LLC	Type: Single Family Square Feet: 1377 Beds/Baths: 3/2

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on color, race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability.

Copyright © 2012 ( ARMLS ) Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc.

Listing Information Current As Of 5/21/2012