Yes, and it is a large share of the buyers we represent. Our approach with first time buyers is to teach rather than to rush: we explain what each step means before it arrives, what it will cost, and what could go wrong. We work through the paperwork with you rather than sending you a checklist, whether that is a co-op board package, a condo application, or the inspection and title work on a house. No question is too basic, and you will never be asked to sign something you do not understand.

They are three different transactions. With a house, single family or multi family, you own the building and the land, and the work sits in the inspection, the title search, violations, the certificate of occupancy, and, for multi family, the existing leases and rent roll. With a condo, you own your unit outright and the building generally has a right of first refusal rather than an approval process, so it is faster and the financing is more flexible. With a co-op, you own shares in a corporation and a board reviews and approves you, which means a board package, an interview, and financial thresholds set by that specific building. We represent buyers in all three.

A buyer’s agent represents you, not the seller. That means showing you any listing on the market regardless of which brokerage holds it, running the comparable sales before you make an offer, negotiating price and terms on your behalf, and managing the process from accepted offer through contract, financing, whatever approvals your property type requires, and closing. The listing agent at an open house has a duty to the seller. Your buyer’s agent has a duty to you.

Real estate commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Buyer broker compensation may be paid by the buyer, the seller, or another lawful source, depending on your buyer representation agreement and the terms of the transaction. Seller paid compensation is not guaranteed and varies by property. We go through exactly how compensation works in your specific deal at the consultation, in writing, before you commit to anything.

It is the written agreement that makes us your representative and sets out the terms, including the scope of the work, the length of the arrangement, and how compensation is handled. You will receive and sign one before touring properties with Soldano Realty. We go through it with you at the consultation, and you get a copy.

Yes. As your buyer’s agent we can show you any home on the market, whether it is listed by Soldano Realty, by another Brooklyn brokerage, or by a large national firm. Our recommendation to you does not change based on who holds the listing.

Yes, and if you are buying a co-op this is where much of the work happens. We assemble the package with you, check it against what that specific building expects, and prepare you for the interview. Boards do turn buyers down, and a weak package is the most common reason a co-op deal falls apart after the contract is signed. For condos and houses the paperwork is different, and we work through that with you the same way.

Boards focus on two numbers: your debt to income ratio, and your post closing reserves, meaning the liquid funds you still have after the purchase closes. Every building sets its own thresholds, and many also cap how much you can finance. We tell you what a specific building expects before you make an offer there, so you are not surprised at the board stage. Condos and houses do not have this step. The full explanation, with the formulas boards use, is in our Buyer’s Guide.

The search varies widely depending on how specific your criteria are. Once you have an accepted offer, a co-op purchase with financing commonly runs about 60 to 90 days to closing, because the board package and board interview sit in the middle of it. Condos and houses generally move faster since there is no board approval step.

Our agents work with buyers in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island, across a variety of property types including single family and multi family homes, co-ops, and condos. Our office is located at 9014 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, which remains our home market and where the deepest part of our sales record sits.