Mary Riera, Realtor with Raritan Bay Realty

06/16/2026

Here are the latest housing market statistics for 08816! If you'd like more detail on the market, what's available or how much your home might be worth, let's set up a meeting to discuss!

06/15/2026

A strong credit profile can open doors long before you're ready to buy a home. 🏡 Building healthy financial habits takes time, but even small, consistent steps can make a meaningful difference over the long run. The good news is that improving your credit is often more about consistency than perfection. Future-you will be glad you started today.

06/14/2026

House photos, infographics, and listing agent details for 20 Tracey Drive, Milltown, NJ 08850. This home is priced at $675000, with 4 beds, 3 baths, and 2221 sqft.

06/13/2026

Owning a home will make you so much wealthier than any other type of investment

If that home happens to be a rental property, you can scale and create massive wealth using other people’s money

Ask me how I know… 😏

06/12/2026

OPEN HOUSE: Saturday June 14. 12-4pm.
20 Tracey Dr. Milltown, NJ 08850

06/12/2026

This, right here.

Car loans are one of the easiest ways for middle-class Americans to stay broke while looking comfortable.

The payment feels normal because almost everyone has one. But that monthly bill is money that could have gone into savings, investing, or buying assets that actually grow in value. Instead, it gets tied up in a vehicle that is worth less every year.

That is how people get stuck. The car note by itself may seem manageable, but when you add insurance, fuel, maintenance, and the rest of modern living costs, it eats away at cash flow and keeps wealth building out of reach.

For a lot of Americans, the issue is not income alone. It is how much of that income gets trapped in depreciating stuff.

06/12/2026

Setting the right asking price is crucial. Remember, buyers will conduct their own comparative market analysis, so being discerning when setting the price is essential. Overpricing can deter potential buyers, while underpricing can spark competitive bidding. Let's work together to set a realistic price that maximizes your home's value.

05/26/2026

This, right here.....

There is nothing as good as buying Real Estate using other people’s money

It simply does things that no other investment can do

It’s not up for debate it’s just math

05/18/2026

Jump-start your home-buying journey by getting preapproved! 🚀 Gathering key documents like your ID, social security number, and list of current debts can speed up the process and bring you one step closer to your dream home. Ready to make your move? Contact me today to get started!

04/22/2026

Let me show you exactly why that 0.7% number isn't a joke.

$150,000 gross income is roughly $9,500 a month take home after federal taxes, state taxes, and payroll taxes depending on where you live.

A $750,000 home at 6.5% interest with 10% down requires a monthly payment of around $4,750. That's 50% of your take home pay gone before you've bought a single grocery or filled up your gas tank once.

Then the rest of the math arrives uninvited.

Property taxes on a $750,000 home average $7,500 to $12,000 a year. That's another $625 to $1,000 a month.

Homeowners insurance runs $200 to $300 a month. Utilities on a home that size average $400 to $500 a month.

Maintenance eats another 1 to 2% of home value annually.

You're now at $6,500 to $7,000 a month in housing costs alone.

On $9,500 take home.

That leaves $2,500 for food, transportation, childcare, retirement savings, and every other expense that exists in a normal human life.

And yet people do this every single day because the bank approved them, the realtor showed them the dream, and nobody in that transaction had any financial incentive to tell them the truth.

The bank gets paid on closing day. The realtor gets their commission. The mortgage officer hits their quota.

You get a house you can't breathe in and a savings account that never grows.

$150,000 a year and house poor is one of the most common and least talked about financial traps in America right now.