Ben Munson is a licensed real estate broker with The Memorie Group on Prince George Street in downtown Williamsburg. He also serves as president of Williamsburg Downtown, an organization dedicated to promoting the businesses and organizations that make up the downtown area. He is also treasurer of the Williamsburg Multiple Listings (MLS) board.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was obsessed with the game SimCity, and always enjoyed building things with my father. I thought it would be cool to design cities or build homes. I did start a masters degree in urban planning later in life, but followed my mother’s footsteps and ended up with a career in real estate.
What is a typical day like for you?
The fact that no two days are ever remotely alike is a big part of what appeals to me about being a real estate broker. I could be locating and underwriting an investment for a client, laying eyes on an issue in a seller’s crawl space, showing homes on the water for a buyer, and attending a board meeting for Williamsburg Downtown… all on the same day!
What do you like about what you do?
As a broker, I get paid to solve problems and create opportunities for our clients. It feels fantastic knowing you saved a client thousands of dollars on a major repair, or helped them secure a huge windfall profit by properly positioning and selling a property for them. As president of Williamsburg Downtown, my job is to solve problems and create opportunities as well. I love that anyone can come to me with ideas about enhancing our exceptional downtown, and know that our board has the relationships and resources to try and make it happen. Connecting people and seeing what grows from those introductions is incredibly rewarding.
Who or what inspires you in your line of work?
My mother, Memorie, always said that work isn’t really work if you love what you are doing. I moved my business downtown to be a part of the fabric of downtown, and to support and celebrate all that Williamsburg offers. The role with Williamsburg Downtown seems to have manifested around me as I was busy just ‘doing the work’ for fun. Now I have a much-appreciated title and a rockstar board of directors to facilitate those ambitions. As a broker, I’m surrounded by excellent mentors who keep me focused on constantly improving our boutique Memorie Group office.
What do you like to do for fun?
I spend every spare minute I can with my kids (ages 4,6, and 8). I try to get them gardening, building things, or going camping/hiking, so I still get my fix for hobby time.
What do you like about living and working in Hampton Roads?
As a parent, there is no shortage of things to do with the family. I also like that we can easily access the beach or the mountains with just a short car ride. It’s been a wonderful community for us to live in since we moved from Rochester, NY in 2013.