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If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the same message over and over again: buy a rental property, collect passive income, and get rich.  It sounds simple, and honestly, it’s appealing, but it’s also one of the biggest misconceptions I see when talking to buyers right now. So let’s take a quick “Mythbusters” approach to it. The idea that rental properties are easy, passive income is probably the biggest myth.  While they can become more passive

In this week’s edition of “New Jersey’s Real Estate Market is Insane”… A 5-bedroom, 1-bath home at 5 Inness Place in Glen Ridge was listed for $869,000 and just closed for $1,355,825. Yes, you read that right. One bathroom. That’s nearly $500,000 over asking for a home that, in another market, might have been considered a project or a compromise. So naturally, the question becomes, what is actually driving results like this? It comes down to a few key factors, and none of the

Airbnb is Offering a $750 Incentive if Eligible & Allowed to Host! If you caught our piece on the FIFA World Cup's impact on local housing, here's an update worth paying attention to. Airbnb has just launched what it's calling its biggest new host incentive ever and it's aimed squarely at homeowners in our area. New entire-home hosts in any of the 16 World Cup host cities who welcome their first guests between now and July 31, 2026, are eligible to receive $750. With MetLife

If you’re thinking about selling your home and moving out of New Jersey, there’s one thing that often catches people off guard. The “NJ Exit Tax.” Let’s clear this up right away, because the name is very misleading. There is no actual exit tax for leaving New Jersey. What people are referring to is a required tax withholding at closing that applies to non-residents selling property in New Jersey. It’s designed to make sure the state collects taxes on any profit from the sale.

This week’s newsletter is a little different since the past few weeks have looked a little different for me. I’ve been spending more time with my grandma, during a time when she really needs my help, stepping away when needed, shifting my schedule, and being present in a way that. Frankly, I would not have been able to do this just a few years ago, and it’s really made me reflect on something I think a lot of us quietly wrestle with: What are we actually building our lives ar

For decades, when people thought of New Jersey, a few things probably came to mind: diners, the Turnpike, and maybe a certain reality show on the Shore. But lately we might need to add  movie studios  to that list. If you’ve been following along with my newsletters, you might remember I wrote recently about the  Lionsgate studio project in Newark & The big Netflix project that broke ground last year in Monmouth county. Those developments alone are enough to raise eyebrows, b

The spring market in New Jersey isn’t coming. It’s here. And it’s competitive. Here’s the skinny on what I’m seeing on the ground: Inventory is still tight. Well-priced homes are moving quickly, often with multiple offers. Buyers are serious & aggressive. Serious, qualified, and tired of waiting on the sidelines. Competition is strong. In several North Jersey towns, we’re seeing bidding wars, especially for updated, move-in-ready homes. Why this matters: When supply is low an

Everyone in North Jersey has an opinion about the American Dream Mall, but what is actually going on behind the headlines? From lawsuits over Sunday laws to tax valuation drops, there is a lot to unpack about this massive Meadowlands destination. Rumors of Closure  Recently, some have been wondering whether American Dream is on the brink of closing. The short answer is that there is no official announcement that the mall is shutting down, but there are signs of financial chal

It’s tax season. You’re organizing documents, reviewing last year’s numbers, and probably scheduling time with your accountant. If selling your New Jersey home is even remotely on your radar this year, here’s one question to bring to that meeting: “What would it look like financially if I sold my home in 2026?” Most homeowners don’t think to ask. The strategic ones do. Capital Gains: Know Your Position If you’ve lived in your primary residence for at least 2 of the last 5 yea

Big news for New Jersey transit and housing: Morristown Station just secured a  $40 million construction loan  to build an 89-unit residential community right next to the NJ Transit train station in Morristown. If you’ve ever commuted from Morristown or know someone who does, here’s why this matters and why it’s significant for both home buyers and sellers throughout the state. This Is Transit-Oriented Development Done Right For commuters, location is everything. This project

NJ towns are still seeing over-asking offers in 2026! There’s a trend happening right now in the real estate market nationally, but not as common here in NJ. Across much of the U.S., buyers are finally gaining negotiating power, but   many   New Jersey markets still stand out to be exceptionally competitive . A Recent Article Highlights Newark: A Market Where Bidding Wars Are Strong While many cities nationwide saw homes sell below list price last year, the highest discount l

Jersey City’s waterfront just cleared a major milestone. A planned 65-story luxury apartment tower has secured a $384 million financing package, officially moving one of the largest residential projects in the state closer to reality. The project, known as Harborside 8, will rise along the Hudson River and is being developed by Panepinto Properties alongside AJD Construction. The financing includes a senior construction loan and preferred equity, signaling strong lender confi

I’m writing this while there are inches of snow on the ground back home and temperatures hovering below 30 degrees.. And yet here I am in Mexico. Ironically, not New Jersey. So maybe it’s easier for me to say this right now, but according to a recent Realtor.com article citing the 2025 United Van Lines National Movers Study,  New Jersey ranked as the number one state people moved from last year. And not for the first time either. It’s actually the eighth year in a row . Bef

Yeah, yeah, I know. By now every realtor, lender, podcast, headline, and group chat has told you about Trump’s latest move to lower mortgage rates. You’ve probably heard some version of “rates are coming down!” more times than you can count. But before you tune it out completely, we actually need to talk about what this could mean, not in theory, but here in New Jersey, where our market plays by its own rules. Here’s what’s happening. The Trump administration has announced a

Exciting things are happening in Newark and our surrounding area, and it’s not just headlines. Construction has begun on the new Lionsgate Film & Television Studio in Newark’s South Ward, marking a major step forward in transforming the city into a destination for film and TV production. A $100 million project.  NJPAC+1 This 12-acre, purpose-built studio project is expected to generate more than 600 long-term jobs and bring an anticipated $800+ million in annual economic impa

One of my favorite photos & days from 2025... Our wedding :) As 2026 kicks off, many of us start thinking about fresh beginnings, new goals & new opportunities. 2025 was full of a lot of new experiences, new connections & new milestones I will cherish for years to come, so I look forward to all 2026 will bring!! I've been planning a few goals for the new year and with the intention of not overwhelming myself with the task and give up before I begin, I decided to narrow them d

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is recovering well from the Christmas festivities and holiday treats, whatever you celebrate this season!! I was thinking a lot this season about change . Looking around the table at everyone sharing the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, a tradition my mom has kept up with every year, I notice how much my little cousins have grown up and how much our family has expanded, seeing more new faces around the table.  I know it won’t al

What’s happening? The world’s biggest sporting event is set to take place right in our backyard. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford officially called New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament will host 8 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including the Championship Final.  Is anyone else getting a strong itch to Air BNB their house? Hotels are charging anywhere between $1,500 - $3,000/ NIGHT! Key Dates Bergen County Fans Should Know   MetLife Stadium Match Schedule • Sat, J

A lot of people feel stuck right now, not because they don’t want to move, but because they feel locked into their ultra-low mortgage rate. That 2–3% rate feels like a badge of honor…and a pair of handcuffs at the same time. But here’s the twist: with talk circulating about potentially lower interest rates on the horizon, this might be the perfect window to explore your options,  before  more buyers jump back into the market. The Truth About the “Golden Handcuffs” Yes, your r

Thank you All for the feedback on last week's newsletter. I was suprised to hear back from so many of you who wanted to hear more about money lessons! So, here it is! Nobody taught us how to handle money… they, more likely, handed us debt and wished us luck. Most of us grow up without ever learning how money actually works. So today, I’m sharing two investing lessons I wish I learned years earlier, the kind no one explains in school, but everyone pays for later. Why it matte