About
About The Developer & Builder
Shaun Ryan is an Austin-based land developer and builder with a strong and diverse background of over 30 years. Shaun started things off by acquiring a BSc degree in Architecture from a renowned University in Toronto, Canada. “My program had a strong emphasis on engineering and I approached it from the beginning with a builder’s perspective as opposed to one of an aspiring Architect. I was always looking at my education through that lens and the Architecture degree has definitely made me a better builder.”
Immediately upon graduating at the top of his class, Shaun moved from Toronto to Vancouver, British Columbia to partner with a fellow alumni and started a “for hire” construction company building residential homes and small commercial buildings.
After 4 years of construction in Vancouver, Shaun decided to refocus on his formal education and enrolled in the “Master of Science in Real Estate Development” program at MIT in Cambridge, MA. “This was an opportunity to take 12 months off from work to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. It was an exhilarating time in my life. The learning curve was steep, the access to world-class instructors was unparalleled and the network of brilliant graduate students from all over the world continues to this day. I feel grateful to have been given that opportunity.”
Shaun began working immediately upon graduation in the New York City office of Hines Interests, a real estate developer most widely known for building Class A office towers in urban centers all around the world. “This was an incredible opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest in the industry. It was literally the pinnacle of real estate development and it was the greatest challenge of my life.” After 5 years in NYC, and shortly after the events and aftermath of 9/11, Shaun moved back to Canada in pursuit of an exciting entrepreneurial opportunity in Northern Alberta.
Fort McMurray, Alberta is the epicenter of the Canadian Oils Sands, one of the largest oil deposits in the world. Early 2002 was near the beginning of a steady 6-year rise in oil prices which caused this small northern oil town to experience explosive growth and it was against this backdrop that Shaun began building and selling homes on spec. “After New York, I was ready for a change and with this opportunity, I got exactly that. The jump from employee to employer can be difficult and stressful but the timing of this venture could not have been better. It provided me the freedom and confidence to grow as an entrepreneur.”
After five successful years in Northern Alberta, Shaun decided to take some time off to consider his options. He moved south to Edmonton, Alberta, where he soon met Kimberly, his future wife and the love of his life. “Having spent over 20 years 100% focused on education and career, it was out of character for me to just check out and focus solely on my personal life but I look back on that year as one of the best in my life so far.”
After a whirlwind romance resulted in a wedding and then a beautiful baby boy, it was time to refocus on their careers. Shaun formed a partnership and began building large single-family developments in central Canada before deciding with Kimberly in 2013 that they should consider moving south of the border to Austin, Texas. “We were both excited about leaving winters behind and Austin had everything we were looking for in terms of our career growth and quality of life. It seemed like a perfect choice.”
Over the past 10 years, Shaun has been managing his rapidly growing residential land development and home-building business in Austin. He specializes in centrally located, modern “infill” homes and larger Austin communities where he can capitalize on his core strengths of design, functionality and quality. “The investment and construction community in Austin is excellent and we are grateful to have become innovative leaders in the space. We love continuing to create unique, modern communities our customers are proud to call home.”