Ben Anton

Meet Ben

Credentials

For more than a decade, I have owned investment real estate, been a resource to people buying, selling, managing, maintaining and renovating both single family homes as well as rental properties. My roots are in sales and marketing, giving me an in depth understanding of what messages, delivery methods and avenues will sell a home. I can also use these skills to help buyers truly understand the buying process minus the spin and uncover what really matters today, and years from now when the tables are turned and it is time to sell.

At the University of Wisconsin I graduated with a degree in Communication Arts and a concentration on Radio, TV and Film. Straight out of college, I joined local radio stations Entercom Communications as Account Manager, and eventual President’s Circle member, servicing a broad customer base while developing and implementing marketing campaigns. During my time there I completed the necessary courses in Home Inspection and to receive my Real Estate License and Broker’s License.

In April 2005, I joined a real estate firm with a friend and mentor. After working under and learning from a small number of brokerages, I landed myself here at Lauer Realty Group, working with local Realtors® like myself who focus on collaboration and functioning as a team in our real estate endeavors.

Home buying and selling, rental properties, fixer uppers, two-flats and home renovations; I have experience with it all. In 2008, I renovated a former two unit into a home for my family. In 2010, I completed the renovation of my first collaborative venture, a 4 unit owned by Deacon Housing LLC. In total I now own all, part of, or manage almost 30 units.

Home ownership, Real Estate Sales and Rental Property ownership has shown me a road to wealth and a career path that brings success not at the cost of others but in helping others achieve that same success. Whatever your location on this road, I can help you to your next exit. I look forward to working with you.

Home Life

I’ve lived in Madison since relocating here for college in 1993 after attending Riverside University High School in Milwaukee. During my career I have achieved many personal milestones as well. In no particular order they include 2 beautiful daughters, Evelyn and Lola, being an active church member, and working with a group of like-minded individuals help run & organize Atwoodfest (a favorite summer festival on Madison’s east side).

Home Life

“Ben provided true leadership while displaying negotiating skills and industry experience that made the difference. We worked together for a client to complete a challenging purchase with a lot of back-and-forth with the sellers. It was obvious very early Ben cares for his clients’ best interests while accommodating all parties involved–lender, seller, listing agent, Home Inspector, etc. It takes a leader like Ben to find “win-win” solutions.” – TJ S.

“Ben Anton is knowledgeable and easy to work with. He puts his client’s interests first. And that is a refreshing change in the highly competitive real estate business.” Jim Yeadon, Real Estate Attorney

“Ben came through for me like no other agent in town could have when I needed a house a year ago. He understood where I was coming from, advised me wisely, and treated me like I was a high roller. Highly recommended.” – Stephen J.

“Ben Anton is personable, reliable, and compassionate. I very much enjoyed working with him and look forward to my next opportunity.” Jen Yakimicki-Guimond, Director of Sales Hilton Garden Inn

“Ben was recommended to me by some of my closest friends, after he helped them sell their condo for what they were asking in a ridiculously bad market. He helped me buy my first house and never seemed to tire of my endless opinions (fireplaces are not worth paying for!). When the deal threatened to go south, Ben saved the day with his amazing smarts and negotiating skills. Ben is often described as a straight shooter and that’s exactly what I needed from him when I was buying. His extensive personal experience in buying and renovating properties is priceless, since he can tell you exactly what it’ll take to re-build that deck or install new countertops. He has great connections throughout the Madison area–to home inspectors and mortgage brokers and guys that can install new carpet for you cheap. When you hire him, you’re getting incredible value from a man who truly loves Madison, loves helping people buy and sell, and is very good at it, to boot.” – Alison R.

“I am very comfortable recommending Ben to friends in need knowing they will have a great experience.” Lyle Anderson, Carillonneur

“Being a first time home buyer can be a very intimidating and confusing experience; Ben takes the time to make sure you understand everything that is going on and help you through every step- he was the perfect person to go through the process with. He is extremely involved in the community which gives him a unique perspective that not all realtors can offer. He knows that to some people, when you buy a home, the community you will be living in can be just as important as the house itself. Ben really cares to understand what his clients need and want in a property, and he will not be satisfied until he helps you find and purchase the perfect home. Ben helped us find our dream home and we could not be happier; but if we do ever want to look for a different house, Ben will be the only realtor we call.” – Ryan and Kelly

“When I sell my home, I am going to call Ben Anton. His broad base of knowledge allows me turn to him with any real estate or home ownership concern.” Ellen Sapega, Professor Spanish and Portuguese

“Working with Ben Anton has been a great experience. He was attentive to my needs and concerns at every point of the sale. He was just as quick to respond to my concerns after closing as he was before he had my listing.” James Mott, Electrician

“Ben Anton is a refreshing straight shooter in a field all too congested with phony ‘yes’ people. With an excellent understanding of real estate from all perspectives, Ben is like your trusted family mechanic in a pool of used car salespeople. Being well versed in both home construction and repair, he will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. I am a building contractor, and I cannot express what an incredible resource this in a real estate agent. You will receive an education on the many variables that are always a part of buying or selling a home. Most importantly, Ben is fantastic at keeping perspective and helping his client do the same. It’s beyond rewarding to keep focus on your dream home versus engaging in some thousand dollar pissing match that leaves everyone feeling icky. Ben understands that whether buying or selling, it’s about accomplishing your goal and to that end, he is just the partner you need- Agent, Contractor, Psychologist & Educator all under one cowboy hat! Ben Jones and family.” – Ben J.

“I frequently recommend Ben Anton to friends and colleagues. He is a friend and a resource that I can turn to for anything relating to real estate.” Jeff Kirsch, Author

“Home buying can be a stressful experience as stakes are high and emotions can lead to bad decisions. Couple that with buying in a seller’s market where supply couldn’t meet demand and you have a pretty difficult situation to work with. Ben understood what we wanted better than we did. Most houses were being sold within hours of listing, and as we became more and more desperate, he talked us out of putting an offer on a house we didn’t really like even though he could have sealed the deal and received his commission sooner. He ended up finding us a house that was not only better than what we wanted but it was cheaper than what we expected. His knowledge and expertise was very helpful during the negotiation process as well. Ben was also very responsive throughout our home search. He sent us listings as soon as they became available, responded to emails very timely, and was always available to meet and show us a house. He made us feel like we were his only customer! Overall, Ben is a great person to work with and a very good businessman. I would recommend him to anyone buying or selling a house and I plan on working with him in the future.” – Doroteia

“Ben was a big help at each step of the home buying process, from when we first met at a condo showing, to looking at duplexes, then single family homes, then back to duplexes. His knowledge of both the construction of homes and the financial side of things was invaluable.” – Ben N.

“Ben is no-nonsense; he understands the needs of the buyer and finds the perfect houses to consider. He’s a font of knowledge throughout the process, and well after. He may even come over and help paint after you close.” And then… “Six years after closing, Ben is still an invaluable resource (and friend!) for this inexperienced homeowner, fielding questions about water heaters not staying lit and giving advice from a remote location. i won’t say that i will rely on him forever, but i might for a very long time.” – Bekee G.

“Ben Anton is a deal-maker. He helped me buy a home that I desperately wanted, but he made it happen without me doing anything stupid along the way. Ben helped me insist that the sellers make the repairs that were important to me, and he helped me to see the wisdom in accepting certain things so that we could close on the house at a price I could afford. Last spring I needed to sell a rental property. Ben helped me understand what repairs I should invest in before listing the property; he knew how to balance the cost and effort of fixing things up with the payoff it would bring in interesting buyers and keeping the sales price where I wanted, and needed, it to be. Ben was patient when necessary and moved quickly when things needed to happen. Once again, the Deal Maker came through, selling the house quickly and easily. If you want things to go well, work with Ben.” – Madeline G.

“Ben is a man of honesty and integrity who will tell you the truth of the matter, not just what you want to hear. He did a great job selling my near eastside home. His deep knowledge of the structure and mechanics of homes are a real asset that not many other realtors can bring to the table.” – Steve H.

“We chose to work with Ben initially because he was a friend from the neighborhood, but what we got was so much more. He didn’t push us to buy the first house we saw, and was more interested in helping us find the right house for us, rather than just making a quick sale. We were outside of his usual comfort zone, looking way out in the sticks of rural/suburban Dane county, but Ben came through with flying colors. Anyone looking for a friend to help them buy or sell a home could not find a better person. He will provide the professional expertise when it is needed, the friendly advice when it is wanted, and better service then could ever be expected. We have already recommended him to several others, at least one of which has also purchased through him already.” – Jason A.

“Whether you are selling or buying a house, go with Ben Anton. He helped us purchase our dream home on the eastside and sold our Northside home during the slowest month in real estate sales ever. Ben was fun and easy to work with and went the extra mile for us. He even made minor repairs to the home we were selling. Take the stress out of home buying/selling by working with the best!” – Tay T.

“I worked with Ben to find an income property on the near east side. He was great to work with. We looked at many properties and Ben’s advice was invaluable to me as we evaluated which property would work for me. He has continued to help me as I fix up the property and learn the ropes as a landlord. I highly recommend him whenever I can. Thanks, Ben!!!” – Dea L C

“My husband and I started looking for a duplex in the fall of 2010. The real estate agent we had used previously turned out to be very dishonest and soured us on real estate agents in general. So when we found Ben, we were happily surprised to find someone who was a straight-shooter — honest, super helpful, patient, knowledgeable and always on top of things. He is a gem in the field. With his help, we found something and closed in December. He has continued to help us even after the closing which always surprises people when I tell them. It is so nice to know that we have someone on our side who we can trust for any of our future real estate needs. Thanks Ben!!” – Michelle N.

“For first time home buyers who can get overwhelmed with the number of houses on the market and the differences between them, Ben really helped out. Ben kept a steady stream of prospects in front of us, helping us sort out the options. He is a wealth of knowledge and extremely hard working.” – Andrew B.

“Ben rocks. The experience of purchasing six homes over the years has, frankly, made me appreciate Ben’s uniqueness. Because I recently relocated to the area, I knew very little about it. However, from the beginning, Ben fully grasped my desires and matched them with the perfect house in an excellent location for me. But the story continues… As we were working the deal, there were many times when it could have fallen through. However, Ben’s diligence kept it moving forward to closing. Bottom line is he gets it, shoots straight and makes things happen. And I am a grateful recipient. Thank you Ben.” – Phil M.

“Ben’s work ethic is unparalleled and he is committed to meeting the needs of his clients. He helped me sell my house four years ago, and recently helped my husband’s family sell a home that had been in their family for more than 50 years. Ben was respectful and diligent in helping to spruce up a home that was in need of much cleaning and updating after my husband’s grandmother was moved to a nursing home. When Grandma died, Ben came to her funeral service. He’s not only a great real estate professional, he’s a pretty great human being.” – Jeanne K.

“As a first-time buyer that didn’t know more than what was aesthetically pleasing, Ben guided me through home-buying with effortless skill. He dealt with my numerous and frequent anxiety ridden emails with much patience, and shared a lot of worldly advice along the way. Additionally, he helped out with the many idiosyncrasies needed in getting the paperwork and inspections up to speed. I must say that what have could been a couple of headache inducing months, ended up being quite pleasurable. Thanks Ben!” – Heather C

“We are guessing that any number of real estate brokers can give you conventional wisdom…and a listing that lingers. We know from experience that Ben Anton is a real estate professional who cuts through the clutter and works hard with you to get your house sold. If you are looking for a lot of happy talk, call anyone. If you are looking for genuine movement – as either a buyer or a seller – call Ben.” – The Plourd family

“Ben is very knowledgeable and passionate about recognizing both the good and bad with any house. He is reliably able to explain what is good or bad about houses, rooms, wiring or plumbing after just a few minutes looking around. He is also on top of the market, and has a good idea what a given house should be going for.” Kevin S

“We loved working with Ben Anton. He listened closely to our goals, he never pushed us, and he could offer helpful advice on what might be an expensive fix, and what we could potentially handle ourselves. He made the whole process feel easier!” Carrie C

“Ben Anton did an incredible job helping me as a first-time home buyer. He explained the process in great detail, and I felt very well informed in the search for my first place. He came through all the way to the end, and I would highly recommend him to anyone.” Josh S

“Ben Anton provided the perfect combination of experience and advice to facilitate the sale of our SASY neighborhood home. We felt confident we were in good hands with Lauer Realty Group.” Lisa L.

Firm Testimonials