“The best thing about living in the Bridgewater area is discovering all the interesting and fun things there are for families to do,” says Gabby Magsino, an agent with Keller Williams Towne Square Realty.
“I love Bridgewater because it’s in a convenient location,” says Magsino, a 2023 finalist for the National Association of Realtors’ “30 Under 30” list who covers the Bridgewater/Raritan area. “It has lots of shopping, recreational options and parks. And it’s only one hour from New York City.”
A native of the Philippines who moved to Raritan Borough at 10, Magsino has been selling houses for six years. “I love to help first-time buyers who think they could never afford to own a house,” she says.
Magsino, who bought her first home two years ago, lives in Raritan Township with her husband, Bruno Loureiro, a union carpenter, their 2-year-old daughter, Brielle, and their 4-year-old French bulldog, Bella.
“There are so many things to do in the Bridgewater area that it’s hard for me to decide on the top ones,” she says. “Summer wouldn’t be complete without several trips to Duke Island Park, whose main feature, as its name implies, is a river that runs through it. There’s a lot to do there: It covers 343 acres.”
Magsino likes to meet friends at the park, where they walk with their dogs and strollers. She is looking forward to this summer because it will be the first time that Brielle is old enough to go on the swings and slides at the playground. “You can barbeque—we’ve done this several times—and the park also hosts a lot of events, including concerts,” she says. “Everyone brings their own blankets and sits on the ground under the stars.”
She notes that one of Brielle’s favorite places is Life Time Bridgewater. “It’s much more than a gym—there is an indoor and outdoor pool, and Brielle takes Mommy and Me/Daddy and Me gymnastics, music and movement classes. There also are summer and school-break camps and parties, which we will add to her schedule when she’s old enough.”
Beyond Life Time, you’ll likely run into Magsino at Bridgewater Commons, where she browses the more than 100 stores ranging from Lego and Macy’s to Starbucks and Sbarro. “We celebrated Brielle’s second birthday with a party at Build-A-Bear,” she says. “At Halloween, the mall held a trunk-or-treat event in the parking lot. We got dressed up: Brielle went as a sushi roll, Bruno was a sushi chef and I was the soy sauce. It was a great way for the kids to meet members of the community. The police and fire department were there, and Brielle got to ride in the cop car. Next year, she’ll be old enough to go on the fire truck.”
On lovely days, the family will hike a trail in Martinsville. “Brielle isn’t walking yet, but she likes seeing all the birds and the trees when she’s strapped to my chest,” Magsino says.
Learn more about Magsino at ItsSoGoodToBeHome.com.
