The Agency Orange County - Andrew McDonald
Andrew McDonald is the Managing Partner and Director of Luxury Properties for The Agency Orange County. Andrew grew up in the Bay Area of Northern California, the second of three sons. “It was my introduction to networking and negotiating. I recognize that I really was that classic peace-making middle child!” And like so many youth, he was driven after high school to venture out on his own. He landed on California’s South Coast, where he has lived his entire adult life. His journey has been anything but static, however.
Andrew is known to be an innate optimist, natural-born networker, salesman, serial entrepreneur, and became a respected life coach and business consultant. His considerable experience reflects common threads in a remarkable story. He has a commitment to demonstrating and inspiring peak performances, and a passion to help people fulfill their dreams.
Early in his career, McDonald represented Johns Hopkins Preventive Cardiology where he managed their accounts, marketing, and branding of their revolutionary electron beam computed tomography. “We were recognized as the most medically credible preventive cardiac imaging facility in the world. The privilege of my job was saving lives, though it was much bigger than me.” The field of health and wellness took hold of Andrew during this period, and a protracted recovery from a serious injury guided him into extensive studies within health science and physical fitness, which continue to this day. “You never know how precious life is until you’ve almost lost the ability to enjoy it.” This avenue led him to consult in the development of successful companies such as Sambazon and Earthling Organics. “My wife and I are passionate about healthy living – mind, body, and spirit.” Marissa McDonald is a certified Nutritional Counselor with the “Institute for Integrative Nutrition”. She is also a Realtor with The Agency.
Andrew’s pathway to real estate was a natural progression from all that came before. Actually, it began in grade school, when he became fascinated with the process of buying and selling homes, as his family moved during his father’s corporate career. “I remember in a 7th grade career planning class, writing that when I am older I wanted to flip designer homes like my uncle had done with uncommon success.”
Before being hand-picked by Agency co-founders, Mauricio Umansky and Billy Rose, to spearhead the expansion of The Agency to Orange County, Andrew was the West Coast Team Leader for his former brokerage, opening their Malibu territory. But as soon as he was representing business moguls and celebrity clients with extraordinary homes, he realized the importance of aligning with the strongest luxury marketing brokerage he could find. That’s when he chose to meet with leaders of the top brokerages in Southern California, The Agency. It became clear to Andrew that The Agency’s record-breaking success wasn’t by accident. “They had a better business model, one that attracted proven performers, and those who recognize the value of collaboration. Coupled with an in-house marketing machine that the industry had never seen, The Agency’s leadership was humble and impressive. They know how to unleash real talent.” The timing and opportunity were right for Andrew andMarissa to bring their budding family back to their cherished hometown of Laguna Beach, as well as open up that territory for the premiere company.
If you think you may have seen this handsome devil before, you probably have! He stays busy, applying his creative vision to Real Estate TV as well. He has been a Producer and Host for Bravo’s “What’s for Sale with a View?”, and has appeared extensively on episodes of “Million Dollar House Hunters,” “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles,” “Holiday Dream Homes,” “Behind the Gates,” “Find Me a Luxury Home,” and more.
As our family grew, and real estate took off for us. I began to see reality programming as having the meaning and purpose that ignites my passion. I made the tough decision to let go of a production company I had created previously for marketing conscious content, and almost overnight transitioned that effort into producing and hosting Real Estate TV. “It was amazing how well that medium dovetails with the exciting and inspirational journeys taken by individuals and families to find their dream homes.
”Now a business development broker, in addition to co-managing a sizable territory and a growing book of business, his ultimate goals are to raise the bar of excellence in the industry in Orange County, showcasing its market globally, and making even greater contributions to the community.
Success in the home, in business, and in “giving back” are the interwoven cords of a purpose-filled life as Andrew sees it. “I feel very blessed to have those opportunities in my life and I intend to make the most of them.”
