If you heard the last episode, you already know we had to keep the conversation going. This week Jose and Kate return with attorney Edward Bruton and Mortgage Banker Brianna Lundquist to dive into the unpredictable world of Jersey real estate and all the surprises that come with it. And yes, the stories get even wilder.

Edward sets the tone early with a simple truth. “Trust your gut. It is usually right.” That becomes even more clear when Brianna drops moments from the lending side that you could not make up. Wedding gifts written the wrong way. Savings hidden in unexpected places. The kind of mattress money story that makes everyone stop and look at each other.

You also hear the compassion behind the chaos. These four care about their clients and it shows in every example they share. Edward sums it up perfectly. “Give us the facts and we can protect you.” And suddenly you see how much work happens long before a buyer ever gets the keys.

Here are the key takeaways:

(1:57) Trusting Your Gut During a Deal

(5:09) Why Attorneys Need Every Fact

(7:49) What Clients Must Tell Their Attorney

(11:15) The Mattress Money Problem

(12:38) How Lenders Verify Every Dollar

(14:50) The Wedding Check Mistake

(17:14) When Fifty Fifty Ownership Changes

(19:54) Survivorship vs Non-Survivorship

(24:39) Walkthrough Surprises Sellers Leave Behind

(31:00) The Risk of Waiving Inspections

(39:17) The Gas Pipeline Discovery

(45:32) Same Day Closing Stress Points

(50:50) Managing Emotions in Real Estate

(56:26) Why the Right Team Matters

(57:18) Balancing Empathy and Experience

This continuation feels warm, local, and full of the energy that makes Central Jersey such a memorable place to move through real estate. If you want the stories you never hear at the closing table, this episode brings them to life.

About Brianna Lundquist

Brianna Lundquist is a mortgage banker and longtime Freehold resident. She guides buyers and sellers through the financing side of a real estate transaction and works closely with agents and attorneys to keep deals on track. Her background in home lending and her understanding of the local market help clients navigate income checks, approvals, and last minute issues. She supports every stage of the mortgage process with clear direction and practical insight.

Connect with Brianna:

LinkedIn

About Edward J. Bruton

Edward J. Bruton is an attorney whose practice focuses on commercial and residential real estate transactions, loan matters, and general contract work. He assists clients through complex closings, title issues, and the legal steps involved in buying or selling property. His firm also handles personal injury cases and litigation. Edward works closely with real estate teams to help clients move through a transaction with clarity and proper legal protection.

Connect with Edward:

LinkedIn

About Katlin Vargo

Katlin Vargo is a real estate agent, focused on serving buyers, sellers, and investors in Central New Jersey. She has lived in Middlesex County for over ten years and brings a strong understanding of the local market. Outside of work, she spends time with her son, Beau, and their dog, Brooklyn, exploring nearby neighborhoods and parks.

Connect with Katlin:

Instagram

About Jose Sanchez

Jose Sanchez is a Broker-Associate at Keller Williams Realty West Monmouth with 22 years of experience in real estate, financial sales, and business operations. He leads a team, oversees recruitment, and manages client relationships throughout the buying and selling process. Jose also directs marketing efforts and helps drive team performance. He works closely with the community to support local growth and development. His focus remains on guiding clients and building strong partnerships across the region.

Connect with Jose:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Every town has its wild stories, but real estate in New Jersey hits a different level. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo sit down with Mortgage Lender Brianna Lundquist and Attorney Edward Bruton to talk about the moments no one warns you about. The kind of moments that make even seasoned pros say, You are not going to believe this.

Jose sets the tone with a story from one of his early listings. A normal winter closing turned into something out of a movie when he got a call saying there was ice inside the house. Not outside. Inside. “It looked like winter in the living room”. And that was only the first surprise.

From there, the table gets into the hidden side of real estate. Buyers who forget they are on what Brianna calls financial probation. Walk-throughs that change everything. Insurance details that no one thinks about until it is too late. You can feel the room react because every single person has lived some version of these moments.

Here are the key takeaways:

(7:34) The Frozen Walkthrough Story

(14:21) Vacant Home and Seller Abroad

(16:15) Selling and Buying on the Same Day

(16:50) The Importance of Keeping Utilities On

(18:56) Refrigerator Disaster After Power Off

(21:24) Nightmare Financing in 2025

(24:26) The Tight DTI Problem

(27:28) Why Buyers Cannot “Just Tell” Their Lender

(28:10) The real reason underwriting is so strict

(31:04) Losing a Job Right Before Closing

(35:09) Why the team you work with matters

(41:57) What Clients Never See Behind the Scenes

(42:30) How Many Hands Touch a Real Estate Deal

If you have ever bought a home here or even thought about it, this episode will make you laugh, shake your head, and appreciate how much goes into getting a deal to the finish line. Hit play and step behind the scenes.

About Brianna Lundquist

Brianna Lundquist is a mortgage lender and longtime Freehold resident. She guides buyers and sellers through the financing side of a real estate transaction and works closely with agents and attorneys to keep deals on track. Her background in home lending and her understanding of the local market help clients navigate income checks, approvals, and last-minute issues. She supports every stage of the mortgage process with clear direction and practical insight.

Connect with Brianna:

LinkedIn

About Edward J. Bruton

Edward J. Bruton is an attorney whose practice focuses on commercial and residential real estate transactions, loan matters, and general contract work. He assists clients through complex closings, title issues, and the legal steps involved in buying or selling property. His firm also handles personal injury cases and litigation. Edward works closely with real estate teams to help clients move through a transaction with clarity and proper legal protection.

Connect with Edward:

LinkedIn

About Katlin Vargo

Katlin Vargo is a real estate agent, focused on serving buyers, sellers, and investors in Central New Jersey. She has lived in Middlesex County for over ten years and brings a strong understanding of the local market. Outside of work, she spends time with her son, Beau, and their dog, Brooklyn, exploring nearby neighborhoods and parks.

Connect with Katlin:

Instagram

About Jose Sanchez

Jose Sanchez is a Broker-Associate with Keller Williams Realty with 22 years of experience in real estate, financial sales, and business operations. He leads a team, oversees recruitment, and manages client relationships throughout the buying and selling process. Jose also directs marketing efforts and helps drive team performance. He works closely with the community to support local growth and development. His focus remains on guiding clients and building strong partnerships across the region.

Connect with Jose:

LinkedIn

Instagram

When prices rise, it is easy to look at a house and think… that much? But in East Brunswick, you are not just buying a property. You are buying the neighborhood that stays well cared for and the access to parks, highways, and local spots that make everyday life easier.

In this clip, we step back from the walls of a home and shine a light on the community wrapped around it. With Mayor Brad Cohen in the conversation, we explore why this town keeps its value and continues to win families over year after year.

Catch this conversation in this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dczT5A4H9Su9yYtAtsBmpApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep09-how-mayor-brad-cohen-is-shaping-east-brunswicks/id1822771174?i=1000731229950YouTube: https://youtu.be/YforbR4hDOc

Until the next episode!