On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, the microphones are set up inside a restaurant that already feels like part of the neighborhood. Jose Sanchez and Kate Vargo talk with David Herrera, owner of Los Bandoleros, about how a simple idea turned into a place people keep coming back to.

David walks through a career shaped by trial and error. Construction jobs in the cold. Long restaurant shifts. Management roles that taught him exactly what not to repeat. “I learned from bad bosses what kind of leader I never wanted to be,” he says.

The conversation does not shy away from the tough parts. Public pressure. Lost opportunities. And the moment when starting over felt unavoidable. David shares how stepping away from everything forced him to get grounded and honest about what success actually meant to him.

That clarity led to cooking again, first at home, then for others. One night turned into many. A backyard grill became a business. And eventually, Los Bandoleros opened its doors with a focus on people before numbers. “If I can take care of my team and make people happy, I’m good,” David says.

Here are the key takeaways:

(8:43) The target cart job wake-up call

(10:14) The Panera soup bowl problem

(13:40) Why car sales felt gross

(15:19) The construction pay match bluff

(19:45) The anonymous FBI letter story

(27:57) Prep kitchen plan becomes a taco spot

(29:31) Why East Brunswick needed more Mexican food

(30:45) Selling stocks to pay bills

This episode is fun, real, and full of moments that will sound familiar to anyone who has ever taken a risk. It is a story rooted in East Brunswick and built for anyone who believes great places come from intention, not hype. Tune in and see why this one feels different the moment you sit down.

About David Herrera

David Herrera is the owner and executive chef of Los Bandoleros in East Brunswick. He built the restaurant after years working across kitchens, management roles, and independent food pop ups. His approach centers on scratch cooking, hands on hospitality, and serving the local community. Los Bandoleros reflects his focus on food made in house and a space where people feel welcome.

Instagram

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

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only and reflects personal stories and community perspectives. It should not be considered professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with relevant experts for guidance on specific issues.

The Jersey Link Podcast is back with a conversation that feels like sitting around the table after a long year and finally exhaling. Jose Sanchez and Kate Vargo are joined by lender Brianna Lundquist to look back on what 2025 actually felt like in Central New Jersey and what that means for the year ahead.

What comes through quickly is how different the year felt compared to the ones before it. Rates didn’t suddenly change the game, but they stopped driving fear, which gave buyers time to think and forced sellers to be more intentional. “There was a calmness that came back,” Jose says, and that shift quietly changed how homes were priced, negotiated, and walked away from.

From the lending side, Brianna speaks to where pressure actually showed up. Affordability tightened. Qualifying buyers took more care. Some deals didn’t survive once inspections, financing limits, or condo rules came into play. She touches on why non-warrantable condos became a bigger conversation and how knowing those details early started to separate smooth deals from stressful ones. “If the financing is limited, you need to know that early,” she says.

Kate ties those moments back to what buyers and sellers were experiencing in real time. Homes priced with intention still moved. Others stalled out. Buyers became less willing to overlook issues just to win, and sellers learned quickly that the market was no longer forgiving guesswork. “Price still tells the story,” she says, especially in a region where every neighborhood behaves a little differently.

Here are the key takeaways:

(3:19) Mortgage reality check in 2025

(4:29) What a non-warrantable condo means

(6:22) Advice for listing condos the right way

(7:58) Overpricing exposed in 2025

(9:55) Bank statement loans explained

(15:21) What 2026 is shaping up to look like

(20:53) What happens if rates drop

(25:17) Seller prep that actually matters

(28:49) Why the right lender matters

(31:44) Ways to fund a down payment

(36:29) Being competitive without overpaying

(37:53) How appraisals really affect your loan

(41:35) Why real estate is not one size fits all

(44:23) Where buyers are moving now

(49:43) When homes become unmarketable

(55:23) Why sellers need more prep than before

(56:46) Stop paying rent and start preparing

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

Brianna’s instagram is Brianna_homeloans

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

In a lot of towns right now, the market is slowing down. More homes are popping up, prices are settling, and buyers are starting to breathe again. East Brunswick hasn’t really followed that pattern.

This part of the episode looks at why this town continues to move differently. People don’t come here for a quick stop. They come with plans to stay, raise families, and build their lives here, and that mindset keeps demand steady even when the market shifts around it.

So while prices may feel high on paper, the demand behind them hasn’t gone anywhere. With new development adding more variety, East Brunswick keeps evolving without losing the reason people wanted to live here in the first place.

Catch this conversation in this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YUo4Zw4pE2eTz6zTaonZa

Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep10-why-east-brunswick-is-still-jerseys-best-kept/id1822771174?i=1000732706987

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/4rMHEel-ZFs

See you in the next one!