Cell: 319-400-8956
Office: 319-400-8956
Email Address: benblackrealtor@gmail.com
Website: www.edge-realtygroup.com
Originally from Arkansas, I moved to Iowa City in 2007 after taking a job at the University of Iowa managing residence halls and teaching College Transition, a course designed to empower first generation college students for success. I later administrated two academic departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Eventually, I found my calling in real estate after hiring one of my best friends, a Realtor, to help me purchase my first home. I was on a very tight budget, and all I wanted was a garage to do woodworking and a fenced backyard so I could finally have a dog. It took a little time, and only a month after I found the perfect house, I met the perfect dog Daisy, a two-year-old yellow Labrador whose owner surrendered at the Iowa City Animal Shelter. My life improved considerably once I moved into my own space, and I had Daisy by my side. I learned that there is so much more to home ownership than just financial investment, it's the sense of place and belonging that's priceless.
In 2015, I made a giant career leap and got my real estate license and I never looked back. I attribute my early success to the amazing connections I've made at the University coupled with the countless open houses I hosted the first few years of business. I am an educator at heart. For buyers and sellers from all walks of life, my mission is to educate you on the process, listen to your needs, set goals to meet those needs, address any fears, and guide you through the whole process from beginning to closing. I aim to treat every client like my only client, with prompt communication and services tailored to individual needs, learning styles, and preferences. I quickly earned the Certified Negotiation Expert designation in 2015, a title held by less than 5% of Realtors nationwide. In 2024, I upgraded my license to Broker Associate.
I've had the privilege of working for two other brokerages and I couldn't be more excited when I was invited to join the team at Edge. The level of care, professionalism, and support provided by the agents and staff is unmatched from any other brokerage I have seen.
Today I still live in my first house, which has changed quite a bit over the years and continues to evolve. Daisy lived an amazing life of 14 years and my border collie, Herbie, is now the head dog of the household. In my free time, you'll catch me landscaping, woodworking, cooking, traveling, nerding out to old VW Beetles, and training for RAGBRAI with my amazing partner and best friend.
I proudly serve the Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and surrounding communities. Whether buying, selling, or investing, please reach out when you or a loved one has real estate needs. Also check out my Google reviews to see why Ben Black's always got your back!